Uncertain Times call for Dessert

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Right now, as I type this…I sit in my house–almost in isolation. Thankfully, my in-laws are here playing with our daughter while her school is closed. My husband is now having to work from home, and bless his heart…he’s been home for 20 minutes and we’re probably driving him crazy! My husband and I moved here in 2017 from Tennessee…9 months before that we moved from Alabama (the only home I’ve ever known)–I just thought 4 hours away was far. Now that we live here in RVA, we are anywhere from 9-13 hours away from our families. It’s hard, but we’ve learned to lean on each other more than we ever thought possible. Thankfully, our parents are still in good health and are able to make the drive, or fly up here on occasion to see us. Now, more than ever I am so incredibly thankful that my in-laws are here to help us during this uncertain time. 

I don’t remember a time when something like the Coronavirus has impacted our nation and the world in such an unpredictable and scary way. Sure, there have been epidemics, pandemics, but nothing of this proportion in my lifetime. I am not one to be scared of an illness…especially now with our toddler who brings EVERY germ in the city home to us…most recently the stomach virus. So last week, when her school closed and people were clearing the shelves of our local grocery store, I decided that–

1. I would make sure my family was safe…extra cleaning, Clorox wipes, and Lysol all the things

2. Stock up on fun things for our daughter to do indoors/outdoors (chalk, crayons, extra paper, dot markers, play-doh, a bright new ball for outside and all the bubbles you can imagine!)

3. Pound Cake–both my mother in law and father in law have birthdays in March, and both of their favorite dessert is Pound Cake…so I’ve made two in the last week, and the recipe is below. You’re welcome. 🙂

4. WASH. ALL. THE. HANDS. 

We have plenty of what we need, but my biggest concern is the ones who do not have what they need or are stressing about childcare. Or the mamas and daddy’s homeschooling their babies and have no idea what to do or how to start. I used to teach preschool/pre-k, so I can help you! If you are one of those people who are in need…please reach out to me. These are uncharted waters, and albeit scary times, but we will get through this together. People always say, “it takes a village” and even though our village might have to talk via face-time or text, we are here! 

 

Buba’s Pound Cake Recipe

*Buba was my great-grandmother. She passed away when I was about 10, but I remember her pound cake. I remember the butter cookies shaped like daisies with the hole in the middle that were always in a big jar on her counter. She always had a few on a plate with some milk or lemonade waiting for me. Her husband, my Pop, called me “Sack Annie Jones” because I always had a purse or a bag with some trinkets in it. Two of the sweetest people I ever knew, missed more than they could ever know.

Ingredients:

3C Sugar

2 sticks butter (softened)

5 eggs

1/2 C Crisco **I often will sub a stick of Crisco Butter flavor shortening in place of one of the sticks of butter.

3 1/2 C of plain flour

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/4 C milk (do not substitute for almond or soy, etc. can sub whole milk for skim milk)

1 tsp. each of lemon and vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Pour milk in last. Beat until puffy. Spray a tube pan with cooking spray and bake at 325 degrees for an hour and fifteen minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. 

My Buba often served this with lemon pudding and my mama always made a lemon glaze to go over the top, or you can eat a slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Enjoy! 

 

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leahr
Leah is a small town girl from rural west Alabama. Married to a college football coach, she has lived in Alabama, Chattanooga, TN and now Richmond. After working several years with college students/student-athletes, she now mostly stays home with their one year old daughter, Emma. Somehow she still manages to devote a few hours a week to working with student-athletes at a local university, sings with the praise and worship group at church, and also teaches spin classes. When she's not busy cheering at football games, working, or folding the seemingly never ending pile of laundry, Leah enjoys date nights with her husband, Moscow mules, being in the kitchen, reading, and listening to true crime podcasts.